HAWAII, 1857, 5c on 13c Dark Red (7). Type I surcharge applied by Alvah Clark (Postmaster Jackson’s clerk), large margins to clear, vertical creases at right, used with United States 1851 12c Black (17), large margins to barely in, small vertical tear at bottom right, red “Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Jan. 19” (1858) circular datestamp, both stamps left Honolulu uncancelled, tied by “San Francisco Cal. Feb. 20” circular datestamp on cover to Elias Wilcox in Bakersville Conn., cover with some toned spots and edgewear

VERY FINE APPEARING COVER WITH THE HAWAIIAN 1857 “5” ON 13-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III PROVISIONAL STAMP USED IN COMBINATION WITH THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE. ONE OF TEN SUCH COMBINATIONS RECORDED BY FRED GREGORY. THIS IS ALSO ONE OF ONLY TWO COVERS WITH THE 5-CENT SURCHARGE USED IN 1858.

This cover was carried on the Fanny Major, which departed Honolulu Jan. 20, 1858, and arrived in San Francisco Feb. 7. From there it was carried on the PMSC John L. Stephens, which departed San Francisco Feb. 20 and arrived in Panama March 6. After crossing the isthmus it was carried on the USMSC Star of the West, which departed Aspinwall March 6 and arrived in New York March 15.

The 5c provisional surcharge was necessary due to a shortage of 5c stamps just after the transition from Postmaster Whitney to Jackson. Most were made by Jackson’s clerk, Alvah Clark, around the start of 1857. New supplies of the 5c stamp (Scott No. 8) were received at the end of June 1857.

The Gregory census lists 18 covers with the 5c on 13c surcharge. Ten are used with the 12c stamp. This is the latest such use, and one of only two examples of the 5c surcharge used in 1858. It was written to Elias Wilcox, a member of the prominent Wilcox missionary family.

Gregory Census No. 17 (illustrated and described in Volume II, page 59). Ex Steven C. Walske. With 1963 and 2005 P.F. certificates.

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